No Trolling?

[cornfed]

And those who won't "drink the Koolaid" should remember that the origination of this phrase makes it one of the most tasteless comments someone could make.

And with that you win the pun of the day award.

 

[pufferfish]

nt

 

[pufferfish]

We know one another and are dive buddies... but what you may not know is my crusade on this board to eliminate the term stroke.

UP that is one crusade I fully support as I have never felt comfortable with the use of that term by the diving fraternity. Remember Type 2 DCS can hit any diver, DIR or non-DIR. I think of a case recently where there has been a permanent loss of use in a single limb secondary to an undiagnosed PFO. Within NDLs and no other contributing factors. Very experienced diver who now may have trouble working to support his family.

This subject crossed my mind again on a recent dive trip down south where the DM obviously had had some sort of 'stroke' as she had a one sided weakness. When I asked what had happened she said she had had an aneurysm rupture in her head (not diving related) but had regained enough function to return to diving. It was watching her help all of us on the boat despite her disablity and doing it with passion when I realized someone needs to 'educate' divers that the use of this term in a pejorative sense is very inappropriate.

I am sure if either of these divers were members of Scuba Board and saw the word 'stroke' being thrown around here like it has been in the past they would feel much the same way as any group who becomes the target of demeaning and hurtful comments.

 

[cornfed]

UP that is one crusade I fully support as I have never felt comfortable with the use of that term by the diving fraternity. Remember Type 2 DCS can hit any diver, DIR or non-DIR. I think of a case recently where there has been a permanent loss of use in a single limb secondary to an undiagnosed PFO. Within NDLs and no other contributing factors. Very experienced diver who now may have trouble working to support his family.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but that's not what the term refers to. It originally meant someone who was stroking their own ego.

 

[pufferfish]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but that's not what the term refers to. It originally meant someone who was stroking their own ego.

The connotation I have seen in the past on this board generally promoted by a certain group of divers was that if one was not following a prescribed method of diving he or she was at risk of having a 'stroke'. I could be wrong but I saw this as a poorly cloaked euphemism which insinuated that should one not have a certain equipment configuration or follow certain diving 'rules' that the diver was at increased risk or a sitting duck for DCS, in particular Type 2 DCS which does present with stroke like symptoms.

This is why the term used in this sense is quite inappropriate as I see it. Uncle Pug maybe you could elaborate on why the crusade and what was the connotation you have assumed for the word?

 

[cornfed]

The connotation I have seen in the past on this board generally promoted by a certain group of divers was that if one was not following a prescribed method of diving he or she was at risk of having a 'stroke'. I could be wrong but I saw this as a poorly cloaked euphemism which insinuated that should one not have a certain equipment configuration or follow certain diving 'rules' that the diver was at increased risk or a sitting duck for DCS, in particular Type 2 DCS which does present with stroke like symptoms.

Let me start by saying I agree that it is a bad term and should be avoid. That said, here is my understanding of the terminology.

A stroke is someone that has an unsafe attitude about diving. They might be obsessed with going deep, doing penetrations with a guide line (or even proper training) or getting as far back into a cave as possible. Maybe they are paranoid about a perceived problem and there solution for it deleteriously impacts safety in other areas. Maybe they do something which flies in the face of current knowledge, for example diving deep air. I'm not talking about arguing over whether you need 'mix at 100ft or 150ft, etc. I'm talking about someone that says you can learn to compensate for narcosis at 300 ft on air. These things suggest a macho attitude and someone that is puffing up the chest or stroking their ego. These things may well earn you a type 2 hit but that's not intended meaning of the term. Then again, I could be completely wrong! wink

This is why the term used in this sense is quite inappropriate as I see it.

I think the term is generally inappropriate regardless of its intended meaning or origin. It's much like the causal usage of the word "****"; the terms like "soup-****" maybe part of the popular lexicon but that doesn't mean they aren't offensive. LOL, apparently SB also thinks my example is offensive!

 

[bwerb]

Cornfed is right..."stroke" came from all the divers coming up to George Irvine "sucking up" to him about what a great diver he was and how they wanted to be just like him etc. but...they were doing all the bizzare and potentially harmful dives trying to build their own egos etc. AFAIK, George coined the term to refer to these guys "stroking" his ego while not having a clue about what he was doing.

 

[pufferfish]

I did a search on the word and it does appear that the original intent was as you say. Here is a nice summary from MHK on this board on the origin of the word which is quite different than the usage today.

"Initially the term "stroke" was coined by Parker Turner and George Irvine [ both of whom at one time or another headed the WKPP]. Early on the WKPP was mostly known only within the Florida cave diving community and many within that circle really wanted to be part of the WKPP. Parker and George, for good reason, run a tight ship and you just don't "sign up" and become a member of the team. Alot of hard work and substantial skill is involved in becoming a team member. However, early on many prospective members would cojole Parker and George by "stroking" their ego's and "stroking" them with their impressive diving credentials.. Resume's mean little in the WKPP, what counts is skill in the water.. Accordingly, the original derivation was amongst the team referring to someone who had little skill, but nonetheless wanted to be part of the team.. As word of the success of the WKPP accomplishements spread throughout the cave and general diving population the definition of the term "stroke" became to be generically associated with simply divers with an unsafe attitude.."


Without the original derivation of the word and only seeing its pejorative usage on this board over the last year, it would be quite easy to misinterpret the original intent of the word. In fact if you do a search you will see the use of the word regressed to not only refer to an unsafe diver or attitude, but more often was used to project an attitude. I see references over the last year to agencies, equipment, and individuals all being labeled as strokes. Not having the historical background I assumed that the 'modern' pejorative use of the word implicated that if something or someone was unsafe it could lead neuro DCS or 'stroke' in the generic sense. As there are divers on this board who have had and will have hits due to an unknown PFO, it seemed not the best choice of word to have flying around especially now that I see there are several definitions depending on one's background and vintage.

I agree with UP and Cornfed that since the word is no longer used at all in its original form today, and often is used in a pejorative sense relegating it to a historical curiosity with the original intent would be best.

 

[DawgPaddle]

Uhm,

Can someone tell me what "Trolling" is? I don't think I want to do it by mistake but don't know what it is, to not do.

Thanks

 

[cornfed]

Uhm,

Can someone tell me what "Trolling" is? I don't think I want to do it by mistake but don't know what it is, to not do.

Thanks

Take a look at http://www.scubaboard.com/showpost.php?p=480987&postcount=3 which in turn refers to this post http://www.scubaboard.com/t45143.html